Mauritius itinerary, day by day

From the beaches of the north to the lagoons of the south-west, by way of Île aux Cerfs and the coloured earths of Chamarel, a day-by-day road trip: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.

🗓️ 3, 7 or 14 days📍 4 stops☀️ Best time: May to November

Grand Baie · Photo Hussain Naushad / Pexels

Route map (numbers = order of the stops).

Mauritius in 3 days

2 stops · 10 things to do · ≈ 75 km

1Grand Baie and the north

Days 1-2

The busiest stretch of coast, with calm turquoise lagoons and the bay the catamarans leave from. At Cap Malheureux, a small church with a red roof looks out to the northern islets.

🎟️ Worth booking

Reef diveHalf day · from €45
Diving on the coral reefs off the north coast, with centres that also take beginners.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

La Cuvette beach · Pereybère beach · Cap Malheureux and its red-roofed church

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Veranda Grand Baie (€160 a night) · Luxury: LUX Grand Baie (€420 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Zaka ↗ ★ 4.9 · 464 reviews
Karaï Kreol ↗ ★ 4.9 · 239 reviews
Restaurant Coolen Chez Ram ↗ ★ 4.8 · 953 reviews · €€
La Payotte Restaurant Grand Baie - Cocktail Bar & Tapas ↗ ★ 4.8 · 647 reviews
Kalatua Garden Restaurant ↗ ★ 4.8 · 526 reviews

Photo Michael Meinl / Pexels

🚗 Car · 1h30 · 75 km

2The east coast and Île aux Cerfs

Day 3

A lagoon island off the east coast, reached by boat from Trou d'Eau Douce, with long white beaches and water sports.

🎟️ Worth booking

Île aux Cerfs by boat, with lunchFull day · from €60
Across the lagoon to the island, time on its beaches, and a barbecue lunch.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Grand River South East waterfallHalf day · from €35
A boat up the mouth of the island's longest river, to where the waterfall drops through a rocky gorge.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Belle Mare beach · The shallow east coast lagoon · The fishing village of Trou d'Eau Douce · Flacq market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Tropical Attitude (€180 a night) · Luxury: Shangri-La Le Touessrok (€520 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Mamie Sophie Table D'Hôte ↗ ★ 4.9 · 619 reviews
Sous Le Manguier - Snack ↗ ★ 4.8 · 223 reviews · €
CHEZ FLIPPER 2k22 ↗ ★ 4.8 · 170 reviews
Cabane du Filao ↗ ★ 4.7 · 349 reviews
the hot spot ↗ ★ 4.7 · 140 reviews

Photo Michał Sołowiej / Pexels

Mauritius in 7 days

4 stops · 22 things to do · ≈ 215 km

1Grand Baie and the north

Days 1-2

The busiest stretch of coast, with calm turquoise lagoons and the bay the catamarans leave from. At Cap Malheureux, a small church with a red roof looks out to the northern islets.

🎟️ Worth booking

Reef diveHalf day · from €45
Diving on the coral reefs off the north coast, with centres that also take beginners.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

La Cuvette beach · Pereybère beach · Cap Malheureux and its red-roofed church

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Veranda Grand Baie (€160 a night) · Luxury: LUX Grand Baie (€420 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Michael Meinl / Pexels

🚗 Car · 1h30 · 75 km

2The east coast and Île aux Cerfs

Days 3-4

A lagoon island off the east coast, reached by boat from Trou d'Eau Douce, with long white beaches and water sports.

🎟️ Worth booking

Île aux Cerfs by boat, with lunchFull day · from €60
Across the lagoon to the island, time on its beaches, and a barbecue lunch.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Grand River South East waterfallHalf day · from €35
A boat up the mouth of the island's longest river, to where the waterfall drops through a rocky gorge.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Belle Mare beach · The shallow east coast lagoon · The fishing village of Trou d'Eau Douce · Flacq market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Tropical Attitude (€180 a night) · Luxury: Shangri-La Le Touessrok (€520 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Michał Sołowiej / Pexels

🚗 Car · 2h · 110 km

3Le Morne and the south-west

Days 5-6

A peninsula under Le Morne Brabant, the mountain where escaped slaves hid from their pursuers, UNESCO-listed since 2008. The lagoon at its foot draws kitesurfers from around the world.

🎟️ Worth booking

Kitesurfing in the lagoonHalf day · from €60
A lesson or a session in the Le Morne lagoon, where the trade wind blows steadily through the southern winter.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Le Morne Brabant hike (UNESCO)Half day · from €40
A steep climb towards the 556-metre summit, with a view over the lagoon and the whole south-west coast.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Catamaran to Île aux BénitiersFull day · from €55
A day in the lagoon off the west coast near La Gaulette, with swimming stops and a Creole lunch on board.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Le Morne beach · The turquoise lagoon · Sunset over the peninsula · The village of La Gaulette

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: La Mariposa (€90 a night) · Mid-range: Lux Le Morne (€190 a night) · Luxury: The St. Regis Le Morne Resort (€450 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Kot Zanane Food Adventure Table Dhôte ↗ ★ 4.9 · 785 reviews · €€
Le Château de Bel Ombre ↗ ★ 4.7 · 709 reviews · €€€
Heritage Sunset Café ↗ ★ 4.7 · 295 reviews
Le Brabant ↗ ★ 4.7 · 119 reviews
LUX Le Morne ↗ ★ 4.6 · 2498 reviews

Photo Zak H / Pexels

🚗 Car · 40 min · 30 km

4Chamarel and the south

Day 7

Green hill country above the south-west coast, home to the Seven Coloured Earths, a waterfall of about 100 metres and a rum distillery.

🎟️ Worth booking

The Seven Coloured Earths and the waterfall2h · from €12
Dunes of volcanic soil in bands of red, brown and violet, then the Chamarel falls from the viewing platform.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Rhumerie de Chamarel, tasting1h30 · from €15
A distillery that makes agricultural rum from fresh cane juice, with a tour and a tasting.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Black River Gorges viewpoints · Macondé viewpoint · Bel Ombre beach

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: La Vieille Cheminée (€80 a night) · Mid-range: Tamassa Bel Ombre (€190 a night) · Luxury: Lakaz Chamarel (€250 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

One Love Snack ↗ ★ 4.9 · 221 reviews
Le Château de Bel Ombre ↗ ★ 4.7 · 709 reviews · €€€
Lakaz Chamarel Exclusive Lodge ↗ ★ 4.7 · 652 reviews
Chez Pierre Paul ↗ ★ 4.7 · 279 reviews
Le Chamarel ↗ ★ 4.7 · 183 reviews

Photo Magda Ehlers / Pexels

Mauritius in 14 days

5 stops · 26 things to do · ≈ 290 km

1Grand Baie and the north

Days 1-3

The busiest stretch of coast, with calm turquoise lagoons and the bay the catamarans leave from. At Cap Malheureux, a small church with a red roof looks out to the northern islets.

🎟️ Worth booking

Reef diveHalf day · from €45
Diving on the coral reefs off the north coast, with centres that also take beginners.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

La Cuvette beach · Pereybère beach · Cap Malheureux and its red-roofed church

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Veranda Grand Baie (€160 a night) · Luxury: LUX Grand Baie (€420 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Michael Meinl / Pexels

🚗 Car · 1h30 · 75 km

2The east coast and Île aux Cerfs

Days 4-6

A lagoon island off the east coast, reached by boat from Trou d'Eau Douce, with long white beaches and water sports.

🎟️ Worth booking

Île aux Cerfs by boat, with lunchFull day · from €60
Across the lagoon to the island, time on its beaches, and a barbecue lunch.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Grand River South East waterfallHalf day · from €35
A boat up the mouth of the island's longest river, to where the waterfall drops through a rocky gorge.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Belle Mare beach · The shallow east coast lagoon · The fishing village of Trou d'Eau Douce · Flacq market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Tropical Attitude (€180 a night) · Luxury: Shangri-La Le Touessrok (€520 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Michał Sołowiej / Pexels

🚗 Car · 2h · 110 km

3Le Morne and the south-west

Days 7-10

A peninsula under Le Morne Brabant, the mountain where escaped slaves hid from their pursuers, UNESCO-listed since 2008. The lagoon at its foot draws kitesurfers from around the world.

🎟️ Worth booking

Kitesurfing in the lagoonHalf day · from €60
A lesson or a session in the Le Morne lagoon, where the trade wind blows steadily through the southern winter.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Le Morne Brabant hike (UNESCO)Half day · from €40
A steep climb towards the 556-metre summit, with a view over the lagoon and the whole south-west coast.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Catamaran to Île aux BénitiersFull day · from €55
A day in the lagoon off the west coast near La Gaulette, with swimming stops and a Creole lunch on board.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Le Morne beach · The turquoise lagoon · Sunset over the peninsula · The village of La Gaulette

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: La Mariposa (€90 a night) · Mid-range: Lux Le Morne (€190 a night) · Luxury: The St. Regis Le Morne Resort (€450 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Zak H / Pexels

🚗 Car · 40 min · 30 km

4Chamarel and the south

Days 11-12

Green hill country above the south-west coast, home to the Seven Coloured Earths, a waterfall of about 100 metres and a rum distillery.

🎟️ Worth booking

The Seven Coloured Earths and the waterfall2h · from €12
Dunes of volcanic soil in bands of red, brown and violet, then the Chamarel falls from the viewing platform.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Rhumerie de Chamarel, tasting1h30 · from €15
A distillery that makes agricultural rum from fresh cane juice, with a tour and a tasting.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Black River Gorges viewpoints · Macondé viewpoint · Bel Ombre beach

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: La Vieille Cheminée (€80 a night) · Mid-range: Tamassa Bel Ombre (€190 a night) · Luxury: Lakaz Chamarel (€250 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Magda Ehlers / Pexels

🚗 Car · 1h30 · 75 km (return)

5Grand Baie and the north

Days 13-14

The busiest stretch of coast, with calm turquoise lagoons and the bay the catamarans leave from. At Cap Malheureux, a small church with a red roof looks out to the northern islets.

🎟️ Worth booking

Reef diveHalf day · from €45
Diving on the coral reefs off the north coast, with centres that also take beginners.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

La Cuvette beach · Pereybère beach · Cap Malheureux and its red-roofed church

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Veranda Grand Baie (€160 a night) · Luxury: LUX Grand Baie (€420 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Michael Meinl / Pexels

Hotel prices are per room per night, activity prices per person, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide): we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

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Good to know before you go

🍽️ What to eat

Dholl puri: thin flatbreads made with ground split peas, rolled round a curry and chutney. The island's street food.
Rougaille and Creole curries: tomato stews and curries that mix Indian, African and French cooking.
Mine frite and fried rice: fried noodles and rice from the island's Chinese kitchen.
Gâteaux piments: small, spicy split pea fritters, sold by the bag.
Alouda and rhum arrangé: a cold milk drink with basil seeds and jelly, and rum steeped with fruit and spices.

⚠️ What to avoid

Swim inside the lagoon: beyond the reef and near the passes, the currents are strong.
Driving is on the left, and roads are narrow and often without pavements: slow down through the villages.
Wear sunscreen even under cloud. The tropical sun burns faster than you expect.
Bargain at the markets, but not in shops, where prices are fixed.

Plan this trip

📒 The free printable Mauritius guide→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Mauritius, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book before you go→

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